Your luggage?

[Texasfam4]

What is your luggage game when traveling/flying?

Hard shell or soft suitcases?
Does each child/adult have their own suitcase, or do you share?
Expensive luggage or TJ Maxx?
4 rotating wheels or 2 pull along wheels?

I'm just curious what the frequent travelers prefer. Our luggage is ...pathetic. I'd like to pick up some new pieces for our trip next week. I'm trying to decide what to get.

 

[disneychrista]

Soft Shell cheap from Walmart that I bought in 2002.

 

[seth_r]

We got a huge hard case suitcase from gordmans. It gives us plenty of room for 2 peoples worth of packing and room for souvenirs. Only cost us about 40 dollars if I remember right, and it held up very well for the price. As far as flying with luggage just remember to make sure it fits the guideline size requirement and weight requirement. You do not want come back and have overweight luggage. We had to take items out of our suitcase in order for it to be under the weight limit.

 

[STLstone]

soft
some sharing
TJ Maxx
2 wheels

 

[IBLarsen]

We bought some hardsided lightweight and I love it! I have two brands, one large Delsey Helium Shadow that I love, because it has the top zip vs the zipper cutting the case in half. This is a large one that my husband and I share. The other i have opens the case in the middle, I use for the two kids to share, each kid gets one side. Both have 4 spinner wheels and this is a must. I'm finding the new hardside luggage is much lighter to begin with.
We try to consolidate lugguage with having to pay checked baggage fee, I'd rather pay for 2 larger than 4 smaller for each family member. Each of us takes our own carry-on.

 

[IBLarsen]

Another tip to add- with knowing we are taking larger suitcases packed full to consolidate I bought handheld luggage scale that is small and I keep inside the suitcase to be sure we aren't over weight.

 

[Amysita]

Cheap Walmart soft shell, that I ran around the aisles making sudden u-turns to make sure it turned quickly & was comfortable...I'm sure whoever was watching the security camera got a good laugh watching me.

 

[meggles]

I think it depends on whether you fly or drive. We drive so we take what we need and usually make an adults suitcase and a kids suitcase plus a smaller one for all the toiletries. We do a big bag full of shoes, a bag for snacks, and a small cooler.

I recently learned about packing cubes and it seems like they'd save time and energy once at the hotel. Whenever you pack items for more than one person in a suitcase they seem to get mixed up!

https://www.amazon.com/eBags-Packing-Cubes-3pc-Set/dp/B004C0XZM4

 

[Texasfam4]

I think it depends on whether you fly or drive. We drive so we take what we need and usually make an adults suitcase and a kids suitcase plus a smaller one for all the toiletries. We do a big bag full of shoes, a bag for snacks, and a small cooler.

I recently learned about packing cubes and it seems like they'd save time and energy once at the hotel. Whenever you pack items for more than one person in a suitcase they seem to get mixed up!

https://www.amazon.com/eBags-Packing-Cubes-3pc-Set/dp/B004C0XZM4

Those packing cubes are genius! Thanks!!

 

[Texasfam4]

We got a huge hard case suitcase from gordmans. It gives us plenty of room for 2 peoples worth of packing and room for souvenirs. Only cost us about 40 dollars if I remember right, and it held up very well for the price. As far as flying with luggage just remember to make sure it fits the guideline size requirement and weight requirement. You do not want come back and have overweight luggage. We had to take items out of our suitcase in order for it to be under the weight limit.

Good point. I didn't think about the flying requirements!

 

[seth_r]

Good point. I didn't think about the flying requirements!

Yea. Should always keep that in mind. It almost added a expense we didn't plan for.

 

[GenGen22]

I had a cheap Set from Wal-Mart that didn't hold up that well so my daughter bought me a nice set of Samsonite luggage with ate soft sided with with 4 wheels on each so they roll easy through the airport. You definitely want something lightweight so you don't have to pay luggage overages and can fit in those souvaniers. Me & DH share the large one and the kids have their own. We usually fly Southwest to not pay luggage fees. And we take a carry on for those extras we want to bring back.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I am a road warrior...The "crappy" Walmart and Costco luggage more times than not will outlasts the premium name brand luggage. More expensive does not equal quality in luggage...longest lasting piece I ever had was a cheapie from Walmart. I have also bought my share of "premium" luggage that was absolute junk. Costco usually has a great selection

I prefer a semi rigid soft sided case. Gives you more room and flexibility and tend to be more durable when getting abused by the baggage handlers.

I used to be a four wheeler but went back to a larger two wheeled case. The four wheels are great for gliding around the airport floor, but they have smaller wheels and do not drag nearly as easily everywhere else. The larger the wheels, the easier it will roll. At times it felt like I was literally dragging the four wheelers. Kids tend to do better with the four wheelers however, less weight and balance they need to contend with. They can just push it along.

Size is not an issue for checked luggage, but they are sticklers on overweight down to the pound. Most carriers are 50lbs but double check your carrier. If you have a digital bathroom scale...step on, check your weight then step off...pick up luggage and step back onto scale to see what your luggage weight is by comparing the two weights.

If you think you may pick up some souvenirs and be at your weight and space limit, pack and travel with a small empty duffle bag or gym bag in your luggage. On the return trip you can pack that with dirty clothes that can be squished and check that as an additional bag to make space in your suitcase.

Whatever you get...make sure you add some decent luggage tags on a different handle than where the airline baggage tag will go (which is the top handle). If the airline tag comes off (which happens quite often) you bag will never be seen again if you do not have a luggage tag on it!

As other mentioned I am diehard Southwest fan for among other reasons each passenger gets TWO free checked bags. Round trip for a family the baggage fees can add up on other airlines.

 

[lk2500]

I am a road warrior...The "crappy" Walmart and Costco luggage more times than not will outlasts the premium name brand luggage. More expensive does not equal quality in luggage...longest lasting piece I ever had was a cheapie from Walmart. I have also bought my share of "premium" luggage that was absolute junk. Costco usually has a great selection.....

Whatever you get...make sure you add some decent luggage tags on a different handle than where the airline baggage tag will go (which is the top handle). If the airline tag comes off (which happens quite often) you bag will never be seen again if you do not have a luggage tag on it!

I also like Costco; the price is usually reasonable and quality probably about in the middle.

I wouldn't mind picking up some luggage tags, what exactly constitutes a "decent" tag?

 

[StormyCA]

We drive and we pack food as I have Celiac Disease AND we eat breakfast and usually one other small meal in the room or take sammies in to the parks to 'save money'. It's BFF and I and we stay onsite.

We take 2 medium/large rolling soft side suitcases for clothes (1 each), a 'kitchen' suitcase (carry on size) with paper plates, utensils, paper towels, etc as well as non-fridge food and first aid supplies. We also bring a medium sized rolling ice chest with cold food in it to put in the fridge in the room. The money we save on food (and it's quite a bit) usually gets spent on souvenirs (so much for 'saving money') and since we deplete the 'kitchen suitcase' during the week there always plenty of space to pack them for the drive home.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I have a matched set of 4 piece standard American Tourister luggage (2 wheels) that I bought at CostCo about 8 years ago. Minimum one flying trip a year (usually 2 and almost all with connections) and it's holding up great! It's also a teal/green colour that tends to stand out from the parade of black suitcases. I do tend to always use the matching carry-on because depending on the lighting the colour changes a bit. In Ottawa my suitcase looks very blue but when we landed in Orlando it looked very green - having the matching carry-on in my hand means I know what shade I'm looking for.

 

[StormyCA]

https://www.amazon.com/eBags-Packing-Cubes-3pc-Set/dp/B004C0XZM4

Hey, these look great even if you're only packing for yourself. Tops, bottoms, underwear, DONE!

 

[roxysoxy]

We currently have soft shell suitcases. The set the kids and I use were purchased at Macy's over 10 years ago. When these ones break, I'll probably get hard shell suitcases.

DH and I each have our own suitcases and the kids (ages 7 and 9) share a suitcase.

All our suitcases have 2 wheels.

 

[ParkHopper1]

what exactly constitutes a "decent" tag?

Anything better than the paper tag and string that is available at the check in counter at the airport!

You want something that will take some abuse and stay on.

 

[avalon451]

After our 3 week trip to the UK 2 years ago, I was converted to the "pack light" camp by travel guru Rick Steves. He insists you can do just fine with one carry on size, and we found it to be true (although on our long trip we did just a couple pieces of laundry by hand most nights and hung it to dry on a portable wash line). DH and I each have a carry-on sized spinner type, lightweight with hard shell sides but expandable, that we got from Costco. The idea is that you can carry on your bag and not have to deal with luggage waits-- however sometimes I just check it anyway, so I don't have to struggle with the overhead compartment, etc.

Stormy CA, we are also celiac but not that sensitive to cross-contamination, so we've never had a problem with finding gluten-free options in the parks. We just bring power bars, and pick up yogurt, fruit and juice to have in the room for breakfast.